Stars kicked off their 20th-anniversary tour of Set Yourself on Fire with an emotionally charged performance at The Stone Pony, delivering a captivating blend of indie rock, pop, and electronic soundscapes that left fans mesmerized, dancing, and deeply moved.
On Wednesday, September 18th, the Canadian band Stars kicked off their highly anticipated tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their album Set Yourself on Fire. What started as a relatively quiet evening at The Stone Pony quickly transformed as the crowd grew, buzzing with excitement as the headliner approached. I was fortunate to secure a great spot up front on the right side of the stage.
The evening began with Lydia Persaud taking the stage at 8 PM, accompanied by Christine Bougie on guitar. Persaud’s soulful, guitar-driven rhythms set a serene tone, effortlessly balancing light and airy melodies with a powerful punch.
Her impressive vocal range and heartfelt storytelling mesmerized the crowd, creating an intimate connection as she shared the inspirations behind her songs. Though her set lasted just 20 or 30 minutes, it felt like no time at all—a captivating and enjoyable prelude to the night’s main event.
A little after 9 pm, after a brief set change, the lights dimmed, and the haunting strains of violin music filled the air as Stars took the stage to thunderous applause. They launched into Set Yourself on Fire‘s opening track, “Your Ex-Lover is Dead.”
This poignant ballad, which I first heard on Degrassi: The Next Generation, still grips listeners with its tender vocals from Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell, alongside its lush string arrangements. The song’s bittersweet reflection on a past relationship struck an emotional chord with many in the audience, setting the tone for the night.
From there, the band played Set Yourself on Fire in its entirety, but the surprises didn’t stop there. As this was the first night of the tour, fans had no idea what else was in store. Would the band play only the album, or would they delve into other favorites? The anticipation was palpable, and Stars did not disappoint.
For nearly two hours, the band delivered an exhilarating performance, weaving through dreamy soundscapes of indie rock, pop, and electronic elements. The set was an emotional rollercoaster, with songs like “Ageless Beauty” shimmering with energy, while tracks like “Dead Hearts” and “Elevator Love Letter” brought an introspective, emotive depth.
Millan and Campbell’s harmonizing vocals soared throughout the night, tugging at the audience’s heartstrings with themes of love, loss, and the complexities of the human condition. The band’s intricate soundscapes, emotional lyrics, and powerful vocals created a truly immersive experience.
The interplay between the delicate, atmospheric strings and upbeat, electronic beats created a captivating duality in the music. One moment you’d find yourself lost in the softness of a ballad, and the next, you’d be dancing to an energetic, upbeat track.
After finishing the 14 tracks of Set Yourself on Fire, the band surprised the crowd with an additional eight songs, followed by a three-song encore featuring the emotionally charged “Tonight,” a track from Campbell’s early days in New York City, the comforting and grief-easing “Capelton Hill,” and the exhilarating “Take Me to the Riot,” which left the audience dancing and clamoring for more.
Stars’ performance was an emotional journey, filled with moments of joy, introspection, and sadness. The night was truly a blast, combining moments of fun and dancing with deeper, heartfelt reflections leaving fans feeling exhilarated, introspective, and deeply moved.
Additional highlights of the night included the shimmering “Ageless Beauty,” the emotive “Dead Hearts,” and the dreamy “Elevator Love Letter.“
Fans of bands like Broken Social Scene, The Postal Service, and Death Cab for Cutie would certainly find themselves at home with Stars’ music.
For an enchanting, emotionally charged evening, catch Stars on tour as they continue to play Set Yourself on Fire in its entirety, along with a selection of other fan favorites. For more information check out their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) pages.
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Stars Setlist
One More Night (Your Ex-Lover Remains Dead)
Additional Tracks:
Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It
This Charming Man (The Smith’s cover)
Encore:
Tonight
Listen to the setlist on Amazon music
Stars Concert Montage
About Stars:
Canadian band Stars brings together candied melodies, boy/girl vocal harmonies, chamber pop touches, and electronic undercurrents for a sound that helped define the the indie scene in the early 2000s and onward. Fine-tuned production and songwriting with a dramatic flare became Stars’ hallmarks on standout albums like 2004’s Set Yourself on Fire, and the band continued sporadically releasing new material throughout the ensuing years. In 2022, after actively evolving since those efforts, Stars released their ninth studio album, the existentially reflective From Capelton Hill.
Stars formed at the close of the ’90s when Toronto natives Chris Seligman and Torquil Campbell bonded over their fondness for sophisticated soul and pop artists like the Smiths, New Order, and Marvin Gaye. The duo recorded material that would become the first Stars album Nightsongs in New York in 1999, bringing in guest performances from future permanent vocalist Amy Millan and Metric’s Emily Haines, but existing only as a studio project at that time. Around the start of the 2000s, the band’s lineup solidified when they relocated to Montreal and started playing live. Bassist Evan Cranley and drummer Patrick McGee joined the band, Millan signed on full-time, and they began working on new material as Nightsongs was released in early 2001 on the Le Grand Magistery label. Before 2002 came to an end, the band headed back into the studio to record a sophomore effort. The soft-hued Heart was released to critical acclaim in the U.K. before Christmas; Heart appeared on the Canadian label Arts & Crafts in mid-2003. Throughout this time, the members of Stars were involved with multiple projects. Campbell was part of Memphis, a duo with his longtime friend Chris Dumont, and several Stars players also had roles in Broken Social Scene, most notably Millan, who contributed vocals to the band’s self-titled 2005 album.
In September 2004, Stars released their ambitious and theatrical third studio album Set Yourself on Fire. It would become one of their most-loved releases and all of its tracks were creatively remixed by the band’s peers. Stars released those remixed songs on a new album, Do You Trust Your Friends?, in 2007. During July of that year, as a preemptive measure to beat any blog leaks of their next record, Stars made In Our Bedroom After the War available for download two months before its actual September release date. They also created their own label, Soft Revolution, which released the band’s next studio album, The Five Ghosts, in 2010.
After moving to the ATO label, Stars released their sixth album The North, in the summer of 2012. A more buoyant and playful collection than recent releases, the positive vibes continued two years later with the upbeat disco-influenced No One Is Lost. Led by singles “Privilege” and “We Called It Love,” Stars returned in late 2017 with There Is No Love in Fluorescent Light. In 2022 the band returned with their ninth studio album On Capelton Hill. While still musically upbeat, the album’s lyrical themes were reflective and often heavy, focusing on mortality, impermanence, and the sometimes cruel passing of time. ~ Kenyon Hopkin
About Set Yourself On Fire
Set Yourself on Fire is the third studio album by Canadian indie rock band Stars, released on September 14, 2004, in Canada and the UK, and on March 8, 2005, in the U.S. The album’s standout single, “Ageless Beauty,” became a breakthrough hit in Canada, while “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” gained significant play in the U.S., appearing on TV shows Degrassi: The Next Generation, The O.C. and So You Think You Can Dance.
Written in a cabin during a harsh Canadian winter with help from Metric’s James Shaw, the album opens with the iconic line, “When there’s nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire,” spoken by vocalist Torquil Campbell’s father. The album was nominated for the 2005 Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year and certified platinum in 2006. It also featured string arrangements by Bulgarian composer Todor Kobakov, and Ibi Kaslik is quoted on the album jacket.
Set Yourself on Fire is a defining release of the mid-2000s Canadian indie scene, alongside bands like Broken Social Scene and Metric.
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